By Alessandra Ivaldi / 18.11.2020

In the previous articles of this series we explored with our imagination the towns of Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein, making a stop at the wonderful Rhine Falls. Now it is time to end our journey with the last, very famous destination: St. Gallen.

The symbol of the town is its baroque cathedral, which is part of a wide and spectacular religious complex. A sumptuous library is also part of this complex and contains about 170.000 volumes, some of which are hand-written and a thousand years old! The entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The library contains the beautiful Rococo hall of Switzerland, an unrivalled masterpiece, which can be visited only after having worn proper “slippers” that make it possible to walk through this magic place without ruining the sumptuous floors in inlaid wood. The slippers are distributed by the staff of the library at the beginning of the visit.

In addition to the very precious and ancient volumes, visitors will also find inside the hall an Egyptian mummy from the 6th century B.C. and a fascinating item: a faithful copy of a sixteenth-century globe based on one of the first maps of human history – the original was stolen and is now in Zurich.

After the library, do not forget to visit the wonderful cathedral, work of the late Baroque period, with its imposing facade characterised by beautiful decorations that are just a taste of the magnificence waiting for you inside.

The town’s name derives from the legendary Irish monk Saint Gallus, who founded a hermitage in this area in the 7th century A.D…. and over time that humble hermitage turned into one of the greatest Benedictine abbeys of Europe, a center of power and culture. In fact, the abbot was for many centuries also the Lord of the town and the confining territories.

According to the legend, Saint Gallus gave a piece of bread to a hungry bear, an animal that at the time represented a dangerous threat for the local community. To reward Saint Gallus for his generosity, the bear helped him to build a chapel of the future monastery by bringing him the wood needed for that hard work. Today the bear is still one of the symbols of the city, and you will find statues and other representations of this animal throughout the old town of St. Gallen.

In this regard, the old town is really lovely and the local authorities decided to protect and keep its beauty by closing the entire area to traffic. Take your time to visit this fascinating place, where important evidence of the rich past of St. Gallen mixes with the vibrant life of a modern university town. St. Gallen and its old town offer many opportunities for visitors who want to have fun between one visit and another…

And that concludes, for now, our journey among the marvels of Switzerland. Do you know other places that you consider worth a visit in the north-western area of this little but fascinating country? Let us know your opinion by commenting on the Meeting Halfway website or on our social pages!

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Proofreader

Alexandra Wood (Great Britain)

 

Languages: English, French

 

Job: Freelance Translator (Alexicon Translations)

 

Europe is... a mezze of languages and culture packed into a little continent.

Der Beitrag The Marvels of Switzerland: a rich historical heritage erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Anna Alvarez Calleja/ 16.10.2020

Since we became aware of the existence of the virus, there have been alterations to our way of life. We can even differentiate several stages of change that our daily lives have gone through. It is true that these adaptations have not always been possible simultaneously in every part of the world. However, we would like to reflect on what we are going to call the three stages that have followed one another in the live music sector. 

Stage 0:

From December 2019 to February 2020, musical events were carried out in the traditional way. In spaces like concert halls, auditoriums, theatres, football stadiums, and even music schools and conservatories, musicians and the public could share music in the way they have always been used to. Did we have any idea that the way of interacting at musical events, which has remained generally constant since the middle of the 19th century, was going to be impractical so soon?

Stage 1: From March 2020 to July 2020

Certainly one of the most critcal stages that live music has suffered in the last 100 years (since World War II). In several countries, restrictions on personal mobility were imposed to varying degrees, from more or less strict confinements, to changes in the forms of movement (closing of borders, reducing capacity in trains, airplanes etc). These restrictions have an effect on the interaction of people at live music concerts and consequently has led to multiple responses.

On one hand, most concert halls and auditoriums chose to suspend their concert seasons. To make up for this, they offered special programming offered by way of streaming and revisiting past concerts. One of the great advantages of this offer is that it was, for the most part, completely free and accessible to anyone from anywhere in the world. As an example, the Royal Concertgebouw auditorium in Amsterdam offered streaming concert recordings of their orchestra.

Many of these concerts remain available to the public and can be accessed from the institution’s websites. In Spain, the National Centre for Musical Diffusion proposed something similar, including concerts not only of classical music but also of pop, urban music and even the latest trends in traditional music fusion. From the United States, a unique offer appeared from the Metropolitan Opera of New York, which made many of its great productions available to opera lovers for 24 hours.

Stage 2: From July 2020 to September 2020

With the summer period, you would expect the many festivals of all musical genres that take place each year. Given the situation of the pandemic, we have seen two different responses offered by organisers. Most have chosen to cancel the festivals and offer, as an alternative, retransmissions of the best moments from past years. This has been the case of Glastonbury festival or the BBC Proms.

However, there have been a few brave festival proposals that, either because of their history, size or location have decided to go ahead with the 2020 event, applying restrictions and special sanitary measures. This has been the case of the Salzburg Festival, which this year celebrated its 100th anniversary, and of the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight.

Similarly, some auditoriums have held concerts not usually seen in this season, such as the Berlin Philharmonie and its Parisian counterpart, who are offering their concerts in streaming and with the special collaboration of the television channels Mezzo and Medici.tv.

Stage 3: September 2020 onwards

Any other year, September would be the month where the concert seasons begins, just like the school year. It is true that, while many of the summer festivals were cancelled or postpooned, the few concerts that have taken place have served to test the conditions in which they are held.

With all this, we observe that, in most of the big capitals, the concert halls have plans to reopen their doors and have rescheduled a small season between September and December, which seems to be loaded with a renewed illusion. A prominent example is that of the Hungarian Opera House, which offered a free Crown Gala on September 7, 2020. Otherwise, the custom of streaming seems like it will continue, this time live, although it will no longer be free, as established by Wigmore Chamber Music Hall in London or already offered in the past by the Berlin Philharmonie.

Ultimately, the pandemic has caused the music industry to adapt and provide a response to make up for the inability to access concert halls. In a more or less satisfactory way for the public, technology and the Internet have been key to carrying out this response. From the current situation, we can see an intention to recover live music again, without these intermediaries. But, at the end of the day, we have found a very accessible avenue that can give us ideas for designing the future of live music.

And you? Have you been to any concerts this summer? What has been your experience?

Links that might be of interest for readers: 

https://www.concertgebouw.nl/en/watch-free-live-streams-from-the-royal-concertgebouw

http://www.cndm.mcu.es/node/21653

https://live.philharmoniedeparis.fr/

Author

Ana Alvarez Calleja (Spain)

Studies and work: Music history teacher and musicologist

Languages: Spanish, English, French and a bit of Dutch

Europe is... cultural variety within a common ground.

Translator

Lucy Gannon (United Kingdom)

Job: Aupair and English Tutor

Languages: English and Spanish

Europe is... a home away from home

Der Beitrag The Past, Present and Future of Live Music During the Pandemic erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 13.10.2020

The first article of our short series on the ‘Marvels of Switzerland’ lead us to Schaffhausen. There, we admired the old town and the banks of the Rhine, including the spectacular Rhine Falls, where the power of nature amazes even the least sensitive visitor. Around 20 minutes from Schaffhausen, there is a village where a very valuable treasure is hidden. It is accessible by car or public transport. The village is called Stein am Rhein, and is the meeting place of  Lake Constance (Bodensee) and the Rhine. In 1972, it received the Wakkerpreis (Wakker Prize), a prize awarded the Swiss Heritage Society awards yearly to a Swiss municipality that is committed to the preservation and development of its architectural heritage. Stein am Rhein was the first municipality to be awarded this prize. Certainly, no other town would deserve this prize more than this wonderful, medieval village. The village’s old town will leave you speechless. Despite its limited dimensions – you can explore Stein am Rhein on foot in a short time – it would be easy to spend a whole day among the old town’s buildings and admire the details of their facades. Even if you were to explore the old town again the following day, you would still find some new and surprising details! The buildings are unique. It seems as though the magnificent frescoes, with their beautifully decorated and colour facades, can lead visitors into a fabulous world, far away from the chaos of everyday life.     

There is no common thread linking the stories represented by the frescoes on those buildings; each building is a universe in itself. The names of the different buildings are taken from the decorations characterising them. The House of the Sun, for example, was named after the legend on its walls, where you can see Alexander the great and Diogenes, the philosopher. In the fresco, they are illuminated by the long rays of a sun with a human face looking at both of them.                                                                                        

Legend has it that the great leader wanted to pay tribute to the famous philosopher, and offered to grant Diogenes a wish. As an extreme example of his commitment to self-control and self-sufficiency, Diogenes lived in a barrel. Thus, in order to talk to him, Alexander had to enter the barrel. In doing so, he covered the sun’s rays, which were illuminating the philosopher’s ‘house’, with his body. Thus, Diogenes used his wish to ask Alexander, the mighty king, to ‘move away from his light’.

Another remarkable building is the ‘Haus zum roten Ochsen’ (House of the red Ox). Of course, the name of one of the oldest taverns in Switzerland derives from the animal, which can be found below the numerous details on the walls of this building.

If you have the opportunity to visit Stein am Rhein, you can admire the oldest fresco in Switzerland. You can recognise it by the white eagle depicted on it. Not surprisingly, the building is called ‘Haus zum weißen Adler’ (House of the white eagle). The fresco dates from the 1520s and represents images from the stories of the Dekameron by Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio and from the Gesta Romanorum, a collection of 13th- and 14th – century anecdotes and tales.

The list of sights you are able to admire on a simple walk through the old town of Stein am Rhein is endless. The village did not only win the Wakker Prize because of its beautiful old town. One of its museums, the Museum Lindwurm (the name of a legendary creature of the past, comparable to a dragon), was in fact awarded the title of ‘European Museum of the Year’ in 1995. You can recognise this museum by the dragon figure depicted almost everywhere around the building. The museum depicts 19th-century middle class life. 

Another highlight is the Kloster St. Georgen which overlooks the Rhine. It is a Benedictine monastery with a church from the 12th century. Its well-preserved rooms contain a history museum.

Our imaginary journey through North-eastern Switzerland continues: in the next article, we will reach the famous city of Sankt Gallen.

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Translator

Martine Wilmes (Luxembourg)

 

Studies: MA in English Literature

 

Languages: Luxembourgish, German, French, English, a bit of Spanish

 

Europe is... forging cross-cultural relationships.

 

My LinkedIn profile

Der Beitrag The marvels of Switzerland: The discovery of a hidden treasure erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 26.08.2020

Our journey starts in Schaffhausen, the capital of the canton of the same name, at the northernmost corner of Switzerland, on the banks of the Rhine and not far from the German border. The town was founded here mainly because of the nearby river, which allowed for the transport of goods. However, the location also caused a problem that was difficult to solve. The Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe and impassable for ships, is situated in the immediate vicinity. In order to cross the Rhine Falls, a safe harbour is needed in which the goods transported along the river to this point can be deposited. This is why the present-day town of Schaffhausen was founded. Previously, it served as a place of unloading for the merchants on the Rhine. Today it is a very popular destination, not only for European tourists. Due to its proximity to the Black Forest and the Bodensee, and the spectacular surrounding vineyards, Schaffhausen is the perfect destination for exciting excursions and longer stays.

The impressive Munot fortress, one of the main symbols of Schaffhausen, rises above the old town. It was built during the turbulent period of the Reformation in the 16th century. Every day at 9pm sharp, a watchman living in the tower of the fortress rings a bell. In the past, those chimes indicated the closing of the town gates. 

Schaffhausen’s old town impresses with its façades painted in the traditional style of this region and its generously decorated balconies. There are a few particularly noteworthy façades, including that of the Haus zum Ritter (The Knight’s House), decorated with Renaissance frescoes depicting chivalric traditions. Another example is the gate of the Schmiedstube, located in front of the house of the old blacksmith’s guild. It is characterised by its Baroque style, as well as its profession-specific decorations.

The Fronwagplatz (Fronwag Square), a former market place in the Middle Ages, lies at the heart of the city. It is particularly well known for its 16th-century fountains, on which the statues of a mercenary and Kaspar, one of the three Magi, are seated. Much to the delight of shopping fans, this square is situated right next to the pedestrian zone with a wide variety of shops.

Another must-see is the Kloster Allerheiligen (All Saints Monastery). The so-called Schillerglocke (Schiller bell) from 1846 is located in its courtyard. Its name can be traced back to the famous author Friedrich Schiller, who, during his stay in Schaffhausen, was inspired by the sounds of the monastery bells to write das Lied von der Glocke (the song of the bell). The monastery includes a church from the 11th and 12th century, and a museum containing various prehistoric and medieval artefacts as well as collection of sculptures and paintings of Swiss origin.

After your visit, you should definitely take a trip to the beautiful Rheinfall (Rhine Falls), situated a mere 4 kilometres from Schaffenhausen. If you like hiking, you can also reach the falls by foot. You just have to follow a clearly signposted trail starting in the old town. As mentioned before, this is Europe’s largest waterfall, measuring 150 metres in width and 23 metres in height. I recommend that in order to admire the mesmerising beauty of the waterfall up close, you prepare an exciting excursion or take a boat trip on the Rhine. Either way, you will not be disappointed by this incredible natural spectacle!

In the middle of the river, there is a mighty rock that has been withstanding the sheer force of the water for centuries. A viewing platform, which can be reached by boat, has been built on it so that visitors can admire the magnificent Rhine Falls at close range.

Finally, you can see the Schloss Laufen (Laufen Castle) over the Rhine Falls. The medieval fortress is open to tourists, offers a unique view, and invites you to relax and enjoy the sights from above the falls.

If all of this has not satisfied your curiosity just yet, keep travelling with us in our next article about the wonders of Switzerland! The next stop is Sankt Gallen and the marvelous city of Stein am Rhein.

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Translator

Martine Wilmes (Luxembourg)

 

Studies: MA in English Literature

 

Languages: Luxembourgish, German, French, English, a bit of Spanish

 

Europe is... forging cross-cultural relationships.

 

My LinkedIn profile

Proofreader

Fern D (UK)

 

Languages: English, French, Russian

 

Study: MA in Applied Translation

 

"As conservative politics tries to push the UK further and further away from the continent, it's now as important as ever to make individual efforts to bring it closer."

Der Beitrag The marvels of Switzerland: Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 7.04.2020

Today, under the persecution of the invisible threat of the coronavirus, we remember nostalgically the “good old days” when we were free to get out and to travel, crossing the borders between the EU countries with ease. At first I was hesitant about writing this article, wondering whether it was appropriate to go on with our series “Let’s explore Alsace” at this moment in time, when travelling has become a potential threat to our safety.
After some consideration, we have decided to go ahead. It will not always be like this. Soon we will see the end of this pandemic and our lives will continue from the point where they were interrupted in such an unexpected way. We will rediscover the joys of travelling. In a way, it will be even more precious than before, because, for an unnerving moment, we experienced the limitation of movement caused by closed borders which has never before been a problem for most of us.
So, here we are, ready to discover a new part of the magical region of Alsace. For now, we will have to make do with using our imagination, all the while safe in the knowledge that we will soon be free to travel again.

After discovering the secrets of Mulhouse, it is now time to move to another place, one which is a must for anyone planning a trip to Alsace. We are not talking about Strasbourg, even if it is the most famous city of the region, but the lovely Colmar. With scenery which seems to have jumped straight out of a fairy-tale book, Colmar will make every visitor fall in love.
If you still have not read the first two articles of our series “Let’s explore Alsace”, just click on the following links to discover all there is to know about Mulhouse and its attractions.

Maison des Têtes

Colmar is the third city of Alsace and is located at the foot of the Vosges mountains. The first thing any tourist should do when visiting this city is simply walk around and enjoy the beauty of the ancient buildings.
Colmar is characterised by its very peculiar architecture, largely of medieval origin. Lovely half-timbered houses with wooden frameworks, sometimes finely decorated, establish the fairy-tale landscape. Each building boasts an infinite number of teeny details which the eye of the most attentive observer can notice and admire. See for example the Maison des Têtes (the House of the Heads), which actually differs slightly from the other buildings in Colmar because of the absence of the visible wooden framework, but above all because of the multitude of small heads that protrude from the walls and the balconies of this unusual house.

The many decorations used by the inhabitants of Colmar to adorn their city make these incredible buildings even more enchanting – from colourful flowers that cover the balconies and little bridges during the warm seasons, to the elaborate signboards of shops and boutiques, some veritable pieces of art in themselves.

Absolutely unmissable is the aptly named Petite Venise (Little Venice), located in the oldest part of the city. This area is named after the famous Italian city because of the breathtaking beauty of its picturesque views, its canals that recall the uniqueness of Venice and the colours of the ancient buildings reflecting in the water.

After a tour through the city streets, why not also explore the covered market of Colmar? Here visitors can find food products and handicrafts typical of this region.

Finally, here are two tips for the art lovers. Those who rely on guidebooks or suggestions found on the Internet will have surely been recommended The Unterlinden Museum. Located in a former Dominican convent, it contains many works of art of unmatchable value dating back to different historical periods: from paintings from the 1500s to the more recent Renoir and Picasso. If you want to discover every hidden treasure of this charming city, do not miss the wonderful Madonna in the Rose Garden by the painter Martin Schongauer, jealously preserved off the tourist trail in the Dominican church.

When you have seen enough of Colmar, take some time to explore its three neighbouring villages: Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim. Do not expect bustling tourist spots, but dainty villages every bit as picturesque as the Alsatian architecture found in Colmar. It is not by chance that these very villages inspired the sets for one of the most famous Disney movies, “Beauty and the Beast”.

If you are wondering which is the best time to explore these extraordinary places, the answer is quite simple: always! In spring and summer it is a pleasure to walk in the open air, surrounded by the colours of Colmar and its fragrant flowers, while in winter the city turns into a magical and wonderful place, where the magic of Christmas reigns over all and the delicious scent of warm pastries floods the streets of the center and invites visitors to stop to and taste one of the many local delicacies.

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Proofreader

Lucy Gannon (United Kingdom)

Job: Aupair and English Tutor

Languages: English and Spanish

Europe is... a home away from home

Der Beitrag Let’s explore Alsace: Colmar erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Julia Mayer / 27.03.2020

Just outside the city centre is the landmark of the 1958 Brussels World Fair, the Atomium. A real tourist attraction and a popular place for selfies, which proves to your followers that you really are in Brussels. But what is it about this building? This symbolises the billion-fold magnification of an iron crystal, which in turn is related to the atomic age and is intended to draw attention to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. And it succeeds very well, not least because of its size of 102 metres and the effect that this has. By the way, originally the building was supposed to be about a quarter larger. However, this could not be executed in the end due to flight safety that had to be guaranteed. The Atomium is not only beautiful to look at from the outside, as the balls and connecting tubes have an inner life which is also worth seeing. There are escalators in the tubes and a lift in the middle tube that takes visitors to the top sphere in seconds. From there you can enjoy a coffee and a view of the whole city. How far you can see of the roofs of Brussels naturally always depends on the weather. That’s why it’s advisable to take a look at this attraction on a clear day – although the fog of Belgium of course has its charms too, no doubt about it.

And while we are on the subject of beautiful views, you can also enjoy them at Brussels’ Palace of Justice, the country’s most important court building. It was built in the 19th century and was influenced by various different styles. Thus, on this building, which is located on a hill in the south of the city, you can bear witness to ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and classical-antique styles. These have made the Palace of Justice a monument that shapes the cityscape. A stone’s throw away from the Palais de Justice, there is a Ferris wheel, which at its highest point reaches about half the height of the Atomium and offers an equally magnificent view over the city.

The architectural styles found in the Palace of Justice are also reflected in the various buildings in the city. From the outside, Brussels is therefore an interesting example of the coexistence of different architectural styles and traditions, from the high Middle Ages to the modern age.

Furthermore, not far from the city centre is the Jubelpark with the Arc de Triomphe. The triumphal arch is intended to illustrate the magnificent history of Brussels and serve as an entrance gate for visitors to the park. However, there are many entrances to the park, as it is used very frequently for sports and leisure activities.

Those who wish to further their education of the city after a walk through its nature have the possibility to do so in three museums, which are adjacent to the Arc de Triomphe. There is the Museum of Art History for art and history enthusiasts and the Autoworld Museum for classic car fans. The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History presents a military history spanning 12 centuries – from medieval armour to the F-16 jet fighter. The 130 aircrafts in the aviation hall are particularly worth seeing.

One art form that has achieved a broad impact thanks to its original ideas and should therefore not go unmentioned is comics. Very little is known to most people that the three most successful comic series originated in Belgium; the detective comics following the life of global adventurer “Tintin” and his little dog, the hugely popular series “The Smurfs”, and finally the western hero “Lucky Luke”. If you are in the Belgian capital, however, it will become apparent after a while that these figures do in fact come from Belgium, as you will find these comic heroes on many buildings. They represent an embellishment of the cityscape as well as an appreciation of this art.

Now we come to culinary specialities, which I already mentioned in my first report “On the move in the heart of the EU”. What you should definitely try in Brussels is fries, better known as French fries. This dish, which is usually eaten in Belgium not as a side dish but as a main course, originally comes from Belgium and is different from other variations of the dish such as German French fries. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, double-fried and offered with a variety of possible sauces – this is the true Belgian specialty. You can get this in many places in Brussels, but the best known are the Frit Flagey and Maison Antoine, where many famous figures, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have dined. According to this, the queues are also a little longer, but in the meantime, you can start thinking about which of the roughly 30 sauces you would like to have with your chips.

Another special feature here in Belgium is that many bars and pubs situated around these French fries stands have a sign reading “Frites acceptées”. This means that you can take the fries with you to the pub if you want to enjoy them alongside, for example, an excellent Belgian beer. Which brings us to the next culinary specialty this country has to offer; beer. Belgium is at the top of the league in beer consumption per capita. Only Bavaria can keep up in this regard. Belgium is not subject to any purity law and has an almost surpassing variety of beer types and brands. As flexible as the Belgian beer drinker is, the right beer is chosen depending on the situation, mood, weather, or food. A “real” Belgian would concentrate mainly on top-fermented beers from wheat beer to Alt and on Lambic in its variations from Kriek to Gueuze.

But the Belgians also take the lead at the front of the ‘dessert race’. Around the Grand Place, as well as in very many alleys of the city centre, a sweet smell can be found, which denotes that there are many delicacies in this area. You can find here anything from a wide variety of chocolate, pralines, and famous Belgian waffles. These are thicker than those known in Germany and have a patterned design. Here too, there are no limits to the imagination when it comes to toppings – almost all sauces, fruits, and decorations are conceivable ideas.

Hopefully by now you have gained a good insight into Brussels’ specialities. Yes, most of them are a bit fatty, but you don’t have to try all of the possible variations and you don’t need to eat them every day! In addition, you can balance the calories gained from the delicacies with leisurely strolls in the beautiful parks, which will be discussed in more detail in my next article on Brussels.
Additionally, there are also salty dishes that contain less fat, such as tartes, which by the way are also available in many different forms. Yes, you read correctly: in Belgium it is customary to buy not just one piece of a tart but the whole thing!
What these Belgian dishes have in common is that they are all prepared with great love and care, which should be tasted for yourself!

Author

Julia Mayer (Germany)

Studies: Public Management

Languages : German, English, and French

Europe is… a community that unites, founded on peace and common values, unique in this way, essential for our coexistence.

Proofreader

Fern D (UK)

 

Languages: English, French, Russian

 

Study: MA in Applied Translation

 

"As conservative politics tries to push the UK further and further away from the continent, it's now as important as ever to make individual efforts to bring it closer."

Der Beitrag Brussels’ cultural and culinary attractions erschien zuerst auf MH English.

 By Julia Mayer / 16.03.2020

The first days were a big change for me, because besides the new culture, I had to get used to both the English and the French language again. Fortunately, this happened relatively quickly, so after just one week I was already able to get along well in everyday life, such as using the subway, tram, and the supermarkets. 

On my first day in Brussels I knew immediately what I wanted to do. I wanted to look at the institutions of the EU – at least from the outside. This was easy to achieve, given that if you get off at the Schuman metro station, all the institutions are actually just a stone’s throw away. The first thing you notice is the Commission’s main building. Additionally, there are other Commission external offices specialising in specific subjects throughout Brussels, particularly in the European Quarter. In any case, these tall, modern buildings are splendid and beautiful to look at. They are very impressive and at the same time symbolise how many people from different nations work every day at the heart of the EU to create a Europe worth living in.

Very close to Place Schuman is the European Parliament where MEPs, elected by EU citizens, work. This building is even larger than the previous institutions and much more glazed, which conveys the transparency that is present in these institutions.

There is not a lack of nature in Brussels either. There are many parks right in the city centre that encourage you to go for a walk. However, the parks are probably used most often by the staff of the Brussels authorities, who often go jogging through the green surroundings during their lunch break. 

The Belgian capital also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine. I will shed further light on the many specialities in a separate article. But this much can be said: very close to the European Parliament, on the Place de Luxembourg, you can eat one of the best French fries in the world, (or rather just in Brussels). Ms. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has already spent at least one of her lunch breaks at “Maison Antoine”, as the snack bar is called. 

But are there many more sights in Brussels? Of course!. For example, probably the most famous man in the city, the Manneken Pis, the big (in reality it is actually rather small) landmark of the city. In any case, he instils a good mood in visitors from all over the world. And anyone who thinks the little man is always undressed is wrong. About 1.000 costumes are available for Manneken Pis to be able to present himself appropriately on special occasions. But what’s the big deal with this landmark anyway? As with almost every landmark, there are many legends surrounding the Manneken Pis, which explain his existence. Probably the loveliest one is that with the help of the water jet of the Manneken Pis it was possible to extinguish a burning fuse of a bomb which was supposed to destroy the Grand Place. 

Although the fountain was built under royal rule to supply the area with drinking water, the previous history is the one most often told here; it is also more likely to be remembered by visitors and for us provides an appropriate transition to the next attraction: the Grand Place.

The Grand Place represents the heart of the city centre. It is not without reason that the town hall can be found here, which, like all the surrounding buildings, impresses with its detailed architecture and elaborate decorations. This square is not only a meeting place for tourists, but also for Belgians who meet in the surrounding cafés to enjoy the great view of the beautiful houses over a cup of coffee and a Belgian waffle or Belgian chocolates.

Adjacent to this plaza there are many winding alleyways that invite you to stay and shop. All these alleys are pervaded by a light sweetish scent of chocolate and waffles. These smells are ones you simply have to experience yourself. Adding to this ambience are the buildings, which are often very narrow and detailed, not only on the Grand Place but in a large area around it. This is also shown by a beautiful plaza very close by, at which one inevitably passes on the way from the Gare Central to the Grand Place. Souvenir shops are aplenty here also, so you can choose your personal souvenir of Brussels.

I have only been here for about  two weeks and have already experienced a lot, not least through my internship at the European Office of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities. Thanks to this work experience I have been able to get to know the Parliament and the Commission from the inside and have come into contact with decision-makers and, at various events, also with stakeholders. I am looking forward to my future here and for many more enriching experiences!

Author

Julia Mayer (Germany)

Studies: Public Management

Languages : German, English, and French

Europe is… a community that unites, founded on peace and common values, unique in this way, essential for our coexistence.

Translator

Julia Mayer (Germany)

Studies: Public Management

Languages : German, English, and French

Europe is… a community that unites, founded on peace and common values, unique in this way, essential for our coexistence.

Proofreader

Fern D (UK)

 

Languages: English, French, Russian

 

Study: MA in Applied Translation

 

"As conservative politics tries to push the UK further and further away from the continent, it's now as important as ever to make individual efforts to bring it closer."

Der Beitrag On the move in the heart of the EU erschien zuerst auf MH English.

 By Alessandra Ivaldi / 5.03.2020

Let’s focus on one of the craziest carnivals of the Italian peninsula. Maybe it’s not one of the most famous carnivals for the tourists arriving from abroad, but it is the most ancient one in Italy – we are talking here about the historic Carnival in Ivrea.

To explain all aspects of this manifestation would not be simple at all. It’s a very important event for the inhabitants of Ivrea and boasts extremely ancient origins. Today this feast consists of a long and complex ritual which includes the organization of different events. The two most important moments of the feast are the parade of figures with historical costumes and the legendary Battle of Oranges.

Let’s start with the parade, during which both inhabitants of Ivrea and visitors can admire a colourful procession marching through the city, led by fife and drum players. In the procession figures representing the most important episodes of Ivrea’s history can be seen.

Photographer: Edoardo Forneris // Flickr

The origins of this feast date back to the 16th century, when the different districts of the town organised, in rivalry with each other, their own manifestation to celebrate Carnival. In this way the town celebrated not  one, but many “Carnivals”. At that time the protagonists of the event were the Abbà, a group of cheerful youngsters with the responsibility of representing Ivrea’s different districts. Today, according to the Carnival ritual, each of the five districts has to present two Abbà – who are actually children with Medieval costumes and a little sword as a weapon.

For reasons of public order, Napoleonic authorities, who governed in Ivrea at the beginning of the 1800’s, imposed the unification of these different “Carnivals”. From this very moment another fundamental character for the celebration of Ivrea’s Carnival developed: the General, symbolizing the municipal authority, who wears the uniform of the Napoleonic army during the historical parade.

In the second half of the 19th century, with the spreading of Risorgimental ideals, a new character appeared in the Ivrea’s Carnival ritual. Today this figure is the protagonist of the entire manifestation: the “vezzosa Mugnaia” (the charming miller’s daughter). This character was inspired by the legend of Violetta. She was the daughter of the miller of the town and married someone called Toniotto, but was kidnapped by the minions of the wicked tyrant who reigned in Ivrea. He imprisoned Violetta in his castle, called “Castellazzo”. However, the cunning Violetta managed to get the tyrant drunk and kill him in his sleep, ushering in the uprising of the people against the overbearing local nobility and the destruction of Castellazzo. It’s not easy to establish what the truth behind this legend really is , but the inhabitants of Ivrea are nevertheless very fond of them.

Nowadays the character of the charming Miller Violetta is played by a different woman every year, who must meet the following requirements: she needs to be a citizen of Ivrea and a married woman. In addition, during the parade she must be dressed in white, a symbol of purity and fidelity to her husband. Her dress is decorated with green and red symbols that are reminiscent of the Italian flag. 

Photographer: Edoardo Forneris // Flickr

We’ve now become familiar with the main characters of the historical parade, which takes place every day during the Carnival celebrations and which music bands from other Italian regions and from abroad also attend. However, the most spectacular moment is the Battle of the Oranges, which attracts thousands of visitors every year (the only risk being to potentially be hit by some oranges!). But what is this battle all about? 

The battle takes place on Sunday, Monday and during Carnival’s Shrove Tuesday and it involves the main squares of the city. There are the tyrant’s troops represented by groups of aranceri (meaning orange throwers) moving aboard horse-drawn wagons, and then there are the people in revolt,the aranceri on foot. The aranceri on the wagons are protected by costumes with flashy paddings and eerie leather masks with iron grates to repair the face. They can throw with both hands in order to intensify the “shooting power”.

Walking bands – made up of hundreds of aranceri, both men and women – rush the wagon, wearing colourful costumes, bells on the ankles and tunics both tied at the waist and half-open at the chest in order to contain abundant supplies of oranges. However, they have no protection at all. Each band has its own name, symbol and colour. Rivalry is not only among people and tyrant’s troops, but also among different aranceri walking bands. A special jury is tasked with observing the battle and, at the end of the three days of fight, awards a prize to the band with the best siege tactic and which demonstrated greater passion and loyalty.

Photographer: Edoardo Forneris // Flickr

As a tribute to the ideals of freedom brought in Piedmont by the French Revolution, during the Carnival, residents and visitors must wear a Phrygian cap, one of the symbols of the Revolution. Those who break this rule run the risk of being targeted by the aranceri!

Since the beginning, the Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges has given rise to several controversies for the supposed waste of oranges, as well as for the “bollettino dei feriti” (the number of people who report being wounded) with which this crazy celebration ends. However, it is important to note that the oranges launched during the battles, and that cover the streets of the city at the end of each fight, are waste products that would be disposed of anyway.

This is only a preview of the complex rituals of the Ivrea’s Carnival. If you like to know more about this non-ordinary feast, put aside any fear and venture through the streets of Ivrea… but don’t forget your Phrygian cap!

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Translator

Ramona Di Bella (Italy)

Studies: Translation 

Languages: Italian, English and Spanish

Europe is a place where you can meet something different, take part in otherness and preserve cultural uniqueness. Europe is union and community.

Translator

Eleonora di Gaetano (Italy)

Studies: Degree in Interlinguistic and Intercultural Mediation Science

Languages: English, French, Russian

Europe is... a chapter to begin.

Proofreader

Fern D (UK)

 

Languages: English, French, Russian

 

Study: MA in Applied Translation

 

"As conservative politics tries to push the UK further and further away from the continent, it's now as important as ever to make individual efforts to bring it closer."

Der Beitrag Carnival in Ivrea erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 5.02.2020

The second article of our new series is dedicated to the exploration of Alsace, focuses on two places in particular. We are still in Mulhouse, which was presented in the first article. If you still haven’t heard of this surprising French city, wait no longer! Just click on the link below to discover the “French Manchester”!
http://meetinghalfway.eu/2019/12/esploriamo-lalsazia-mulhouse/
Among the many attractions on offer in this city, two museums are really a mus-seen: the Cité de l’Automobile and the Cité du Train.

The Cité de l’Automobile. The first of the two attractions on our virtual tour is the most important car museum of the world and presents a surprising history. It contains an impressive collection of prestigious cars. Even the least experienced visitor cannot help but admire the grandeur of the world’s most famous car manufacturers and discover the evolution of this fundamental means of transport, from its origins to the fastest and most technological cars of modern society.
At the root of this amazing collection lies the unbridled passion for cars of the two brothers Fritz and Hans Schlumpf, who gave life to a textile industrial empire in Mulhouse between 1935 and 1976. Fritz, the younger brother, secretly started to buy historical cars, establishing contacts with sellers from all over Europe and even from America. His secret collection grew rapidly and was kept hidden in the warehouse of an industrial establishment. Only a few privileged people were allowed to see it. Later, even Hans started to devote himself to the collection of prestigious cars, to the extent that the two brothers spent a significant portion of their riches expanding their collection and employing staff highly specialized in car restoration.
In the 1970s the two brothers decided to reveal to the media the existence of their amazing collection and to inaugurate their future car museum in a spectacular way. Everything was ready for the opening of this new attraction, but the two brothers could never witness the realization of their dream. In fact, around that time their industrial empire fell into a crisis. The two brothers lost their entire fortune and had to close their factories and fire all the workers. These discovered the existence of the collection of prestigious cars in 1977, in conjunction with the “mediatic surprise” planned by the Schlumpf brothers in order to promote their own museum. The consequences were really unexpected for the two brothers: the workers got control of the collection and opened it to the public. It was in this way that the “Museum of workers” (in French, Musée des travailleurs), with free entry, was born. After long legal proceedings, the French government acquired the precious collection and re-sold it to the National Automobile Museum Association (Association du Musée national de l’automobile), founded with the aim of preserving Schlumpf’s cars and keeping them in Alsace. In 1982 the National Automobile Museum was finally inaugurated.
Some years later, in 1989, Fritz Schlumpf obtained permission from the Paris Court of Appeal to rename the museum ‘Musée national de l’automobile – Collection Schlumpf’ (National Automobile Museum – Schlumpf Collection). Its current name, Cité de l’Automobile, was created in 2006, when the museum was entirely renovated. Today those who visit this place can admire the amazing collection of the Schlumpf brothers, divided in different areas based on the chronological classification of the many car models, and take a close look at the most prestigious racing cars of all time. In addition to all this, enthralling interactive exhibitions, representations and 3D movies are there to illustrate the functioning of many different kinds of car engines, while two real industrial robots show visitors how cars are constructed today. There are also parts of the museum which are absolutely not to be missed for children: a children’s area and a little electric train which allows visitors to explore Schlumpf’s huge collection in rapid speed. Moreover, it is possible to observe a series of wonderful toy cars for children; objects from the past able to make us all dream – not only the children, but the adults too! At certain parts of the year, visitors will even see Schlumpf’s prestigious cars come back to life and race in the so called autodrome, a running track inside the museum.

La Cité du Train

The Cité du Train. Equally fascinating is the Cité du Train, the biggest railway museum of Europe. It contains more than a hundred vehicles and a vast collection of objects connected with railway history. Here visitors can take a close look, or even discover from the inside, trains of all sorts: steam, electric and diesel locomotives… And they can also find out how future trains will be and the incredible speeds they will reach!
In the first area of the museum visitors will experience real time travel! In semidarkness, in a location which cannot but impress anyone who enters this place, stand a multitude of trains and coaches from the past, dating from the second half of the 19th century to the period after the Second World War. And by following some specific thematic itineraries, it is possible to investigate different aspects of railway history, from the lux of the aristocrats with their

Hercule Poirot

sumptuous coaches to the misery of the poorer social classes, to the emotion of the first holidays permitted to the workers, to end up with the horror of war. Life-sized mannequins, who play the role of railwaymen or of the passengers, enhance the feelings experienced by visitors at this place where different historical periods meet.

Speaking of mannequins, the famous detective Hercule Poirot of course should make an appearance! He is on board of the Orient Express, together with the other characters of the unforgettable novel by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express.
Proceeding with your visit, you will then find a more illuminated area, where it is possible to observe the functioning of different kinds of engines and obviously to further investigate the history of this iconic means of transport.
Think you can’t drive a steam train yourself? Think again. In fact, visitors have the opportunity to “drive a train” on rails running along the perimeter of the museum, which in the past were actually used for the normal transit of trains.

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Proofreader

Fern D (UK)

 

Languages: English, French, Russian

 

Study: MA in Applied Translation

 

"As conservative politics tries to push the UK further and further away from the continent, it's now as important as ever to make individual efforts to bring it closer."

Illustrator

Daria Subkhangulova (Russia)

Languages: Russian and English.

Job: illustrator.

Europe is...diversity and friendship.

Der Beitrag Let’s explore Alsace: two incredible “cities” erschien zuerst auf MH English.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 15.12.2019

Contrary to what you might be expecting, our tour of Alsace doesn’t start at Strasbourg, the most important city of the region, which is also home to many international organisations. The first stop on this fascinating journey is Mulhouse, the second largest city in Alsace, which is just a short distance from the Swiss border.

Place de la Réunion. Picture of @OMAR-MALO

It is a decidedly cosmopolitan city, where history and modernity come together in an extraordinary union. Legend has it that the first local community was built around a watermill, which grew over time, and expanded to become Mulhouse, the city that it is today. Its original name is, in fact, “Mühlhausen”, a name made up of the German “Mühl” for mill, and “Hausen” for houses. Initially, it was a type of city-state,and then later became the Republic of Mulhouse.

Between 1700 and 1800, the city underwent two notable transformations. Firstly, it became an important industrial city, so much so, that it was nick-named the “French Manchester”. Precisely, French. This was because, in the meantime, Mulhouse had lost its independence and became part of official French territory. The local fabric-processing factory was also built during this period and later became one of the key symbols of the Industrial Revolution that spread throughout Europe.

It goes without saying that these historical and economic events largely influenced the city’s development: Mulhouse expanded and witnessed a rapid growth in its population due to flows of migration from the countryside to the urban world. Even today, the city’s identity is heavily characterised by its industrial past. You can see this in its many museums found in both the heart and the outskirts of the city, which is also, unsurprisingly, considered to be the European capital of “les musées techniques”, or technical museums.

Mulhouse’s Town Hall.

Mulhouse is, in fact, home to the Cité de l’automobile, the largest car museum in the world. Inside, visitors can admire a vast and impressive collection of vintage and racing
cars, once owned by the rich local industrialist Fritz Schlumpf. In recent times, many new pieces have been added to the collection, including some of the most modern and technical cars to ever exist. However, the museum doesn’t just stop there: it also has simulators and many other interactive exhibitions you can discover.

Another unmissable attraction at Mulhouse is the Cité du train. Like the Cité de l’automobile, this museum allows visitors to uncover the secrets of train and railway history, as well as embark on surprising journeys onboard trains from some of the most diverse countries and historical eras.
But Mulhouse also has lots more to offer, such as the electric energy museum, Electropolis, and Le Musée de l’impression sur Etoffes, a museum that gathers some of the finest fabrics and artistic creations that the local textiles factory has decided to conserve and put on show.

The fact that Mulhouse is a hub that borders three different states makes it easy to go and discover them – it is easy to get to the Black Forest in Germany, or discover Switzerland, in particular its magnificent city, Basel, which is a short distance from the French border and offers a host of things to see and do.
If you are staying in France, it’s possible to head north and visit the beautiful sights at Colmar and Strasbourg. Anyone planning a trip to Alsace absolutely can’t miss out on visiting these two cities.

Temple Saint-Étienne. Picture of @Timothy Keefe.

Mulhouse’s positioning between these different countries has naturally influenced its architecture, which presents some peculiar characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of Alsace. The houses in the historical centre are characterised by their painted walls, and embellished by splendid frescoes: a detail that you can’t find in any other Alsatian village, and that seems to come from the influence of Swiss architectural culture.

Of all the buildings that decorate Mulhouse, the town hall stands out the most, and leaves visitors breathless at the beauty of its frescoes and elaborate friezes. In front of the town hall, stands the imposing Temple Saint-Étienne. The two buildings are located on the sides of la Place de la Réunion, the square that is at the heart of this wonderful city.

That’s all for today folks, but don’t think that our tour ends here. There is still lots to see, and this part of Alsace has many more surprises in store for you.

Author

Alessandra Ivaldi (Italy)

Speaks: Italian, English, German, French

Europe is... a cultural heritage.

Website: https://iva1794.wixsite.com/home

Translator

Emma J Latham (United Kingdom)

Studies: Translation

Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish

Europe is... being united in differences

Illustrator

Daria Subkhangulova (Russia)

Languages: Russian and English.

Job: illustrator.

Europe is...diversity and friendship.

Der Beitrag Let’s explore Alsace: Mulhouse erschien zuerst auf MH English.